teaching souls through the written word

Bad zeal

Paul writes of his fellow Jews, “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge” (Romans 10:2).

Paul himself had once been “extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions” (Galatians 1:14). As evidence of this zeal he persecuted the church (Philippians 3:6).

Zeal without knowledge is not only misguided, but can even be dangerous.

Good zeal

But then there is that righteous zeal Christ Himself demonstrated (John 2:17). And He “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14).